Apples2

Great...if you are lucky, you can find them at TJMaxx. They have the 7's there all the time, and, like I said in my post to Janet, they do fit nice. The Seven for all Mankind are a little harder to find there. I have looked them up online and did not want to buy them cuz they were double the price. I just waited until I found my size and it was worth the money. I find now that they are the only jean I want to wear. I just have them in black. Want to find a denim pair but, again, will wait till I see them at TJMaxx and get a better price. How about throwing together a crockpot meal for tomorrow when your friends arrive? Make some garlic toast or something. I have chicken stew in the crockpots for tonight. Diced chicken celery garlic/onion/herbs FF sour cream chicken stock carrots and will add some homemade egg noodles later today. I make them ahead and freeze them. But, you could use other egg noodles. Just use what you have on hand. I bet if they are just dropping by, they do not expect a five course meal.

Janet...there are two different 7's. TJMaxx carries both. The plain 7's are a nice fit and I can wear a size 2 in them. The Seven for all Mankind jeans are a little spendier but LOVE the fit and I wear a 4 in those. These jeans are very long and lean. Fit my legs which does not happen with just any jeans. I pay attention to the fit also...not so much the size. I bet you took a size 6 cuz they were skinny jeans. Makes a difference. I, too, have many different sizes in tops. Depends on the cut. I don't like skin tight anything. Hope you can wear your skinny jeans and boots soon. I have a pair of black leather boots (cute) in the truck ready to go to the consignment shop. They droop on my chicken legs...even when the jeans are tucked in. I have gotten more into buying the ankle boots and then I don't have to worry about it. Don't worry about your mood, Janet. It's work having company even when it's family. Just thinking of meals, keeping them entertained, disruption of YOUR schedule, disruption of the house....pretty typical feelings. Well, I guess it all depends on WHO is going to visit. DH has a couple of sisters and family that freak me out. Very high maintenance. And then his gay brother comes with two little DS's in tow and they are a dream to have around. Easy going and fun. Put on your happy face and enjoy your time with them!

step away from the candy!!!!!!!!

Julie...vedigo is still hanging in there. It will just run it's course like it does each year about this time. I truly believe it's a sinus thing. Swollen and affects the ears. It usually hangs on a couple of weeks. I have medication for the dizziness but don't like to take it if I am having to drive. Makes me fairly drousy. It will just have to play itself out. Congrats on your 1lb and getting to a weight that you have not been in a while. Gives a person renewed hope, doesn't it?

Mornin' Gang...Another early morning but to bed by 9:30. Men did not come into eat until 8:30pm. Needless to say, the sirloin roll-ups did not have a lot of moisture by that time. They didn't seem to mind not having much gravy on their potatoes. meat and stuffing really sucked it up. They were taking advantage of the nice weather and worked after it turned dark. Will most likely do the same today. Think supper will be in a couple of crock pots tonight...easier to plan. Stuck around home today. I am the go-between for the guys. They have some working 15 miles north of here and some 11 miles south with not phone service since they are working in a gulley. So if they have trouble at point A. I need to run to point B. to grab someone that knows something. Make sense? OK with me to be at home today. Need to pay farm and business bills and reconcile the accounts. Other than that, just doing some organizing. Pantry is done and feels good. Janet...have a great time with your family. I don't know what style of Levis you like but I always have to buy smaller than any other brand of jeans in Levis. My favorite jeans (Seven for all Mankind) I need to buy a size larger. Go figure. Maybe we are just shaped differently and that's why. Are you upside down from me????????????? Linda....thinking of DGD and what she is going through. Hopefully, it's the end of the treatments for awhile. I have a friend that got Type 1 diabetes at the age of 32. She has a difficult time taking care of herself. I think she might now finally be getting it...It's difficult to change it for them. I just listen and throw a "This may seem selfish but I want you around in our retirement years". She does seem better and not so puffy lately. She wanted me to put a monthly menu together for her. Did it and not sure if she will stick with it. Hope so. Sorry about feeling funky at work lately. No sun? That's my excuse...think I might be beating that one to death and still running with it! LOL Isn't it strange when the scale is not moving but our clothes are getting big? I went through that stage. It was almost like it was a delayed reaction. Scale moves....a month later clothes get big. I am like you, Linda. I have started to weigh most mornings. Never did during the weight loss stage cuz I was driving myself crazy with it. If I forget to weigh and already am dressed, I will wait till the next day. I know we should not weigh every day cuz our bodies are fickle with Water retention, etc. Laura...hummmm....just maybe the cancer is not as bad as they thought with your poppa. It's a very good sign that they said there is not a lot of bone involvment. My "mom" finished her chemo flush treatments yesterday. She had so much clotting, it was scary. It only last awhile and then she was better. She is happy to be done and get out of coffee with the girls again every day. She was only making it 1-2 days a week and that is a killer for her. She still walks her 2 miles a day in her apt. building. 89 and still living a healthy life. That's what got her there. We DID have sun yesterday, Laura. It also got up to the mid-40's. Not cold when a person is used to it. I dread the freezing temps coming. ALL of our corn is still out in the fields untouched. It's going to be a bitter harvest. I'm not being negative...just prepared. I will have to double up the Under Armour and put two pair of coveralls on. There has not even been a hint of when the H1N1 vacine will be available in our area. Big??????????? Hope you can get Nels vacinated. He has those types of cheeks that a Grandma Wanna Be just wants to kiss. Would you do that for me, please? Just tell him it's from Auntie Karen. I, too, just love to fly and travel. I could do it every day of my life (hence...where younger DS gets if from). Told DH a couple of weeks ago that I think I want to be a airline steward. (Dialing phone to see where I can get training)! Sorry you cannot make it to the gym as much as you would like. Your life will get back into the daily routine again. Lots you can do without the gym also. I have never gone to the gym (too far on daily basis). I run the stairs, weight train, treadmill, farm work, etc. Are you able to fit anything like that in your crazy life right now? Laura...call me when you can. I am home all day today (I think). We should visit about the FL plans and get things going. I will plan and do it if you need to step back on it. Just think that within the next couple of weeks we should get things in place so the peeps can arrange their schedules. Just don't want added pressure for you right now. Might just take your mind off things though. Cheri....sounds like you have some good restriction. You are now seeing the downhill phase of the weighloss. You are on the other side of the mountain. Remember that song when we were younger about the other side of the mountain. We go there just to see what we can see. Heck, I'm staying at the other side of the mountain! Gotta go...I know I missed some of you but you are all inside my heart. Have a lovely day.

Hey Porcupine...welcome to the "Help" thread. First of all, if when you signed up, you chose to get email notifications to your subscribed threads, you will be notified. The threads are titled. Just click on your email thread and you can then click onto the sight and it will take you to LBT and the thread. Or, go to the top of any page and click "User CP". Page down a bit and it will show all of your subscribed threads (threads you have posted in). If you have trouble, come back here for instructions. Why don't you post again and tell us a little about yourself. This is a great thread to come to for support. There are LB people in all different stages of their journey. You can usually find an answer from one of us (or all of us LOL). I had responded to you in another thread. You sounded like you felt you are in this trip all alone. Please don't feel that way. There's always someone on LBT that can walk you through things. Wishing you luck!

Wishing you luck and a speedy recovery. Take things day to day. Everything will fit together and you will figure out (as far as you diet) what you can or cannot tolerate. I have always chosen NOT to be too restricted by the band. I did not want to eliminate certain foods. I do not mind getting hungry once in awhile. I choose to eat every 2-4 hours. I eat most foods....just less. I make far more healthy food choices than when I was obese. You will figure out what works for you. For now, just follow all of your doc's recommendations. Come back to LBT for support. There are people of all stages asking for advice, venting and just plain talking with other LB people.

I am sooooooo sorry I made that impulsive statement earlier about calling your mom. Sounds like it is not an easy situation with your mother and wishing you the best.

Phyll....you are just getting younger and younger in the way you are moving. Good going. I LOVE killer chower. Wish I was there to have a cup of it and to enjoy some warmer weather. Just turned the furnace up again. Have my flannel jammies on and still cold. Going to have to go get my big thick robe also. Also, congrats on the 1lb down. Not an easy thing to accomplish while on the road.

Tracy...just want to say congrats and thanks for your post. Puts it all together and hopefully will catch the eye of someone struggling or looking into having LB surgery. If you can inspire just one person by your post, you have done a your good deed for today!

Oh Meredith Honey...I am so sorry us more experienced here did not inform you that ALL men can be A$$'s at any given moment....even the good ones. They can be as fickle as our bands! What I have found is that ANYTHING to do with the house, personal stuff, etc., turns my DH off and, like you said, I'm FORCING him to hang a picture, lift a table to turn an area rug, etc..... Good luck with dinner tonight. If you know maybe where you are going and the restaurant posts their menu, you can plan ahead and look it up. Congrats on being to the almost half way point. You've done so well. Yep, second house was not meant to be. Hope your first ends up being your dream house. Fingers crossed!:biggrin:

Greetings Gabby Girls! I am NOT even going to try and catch up with all of you. I will just pull this post out of "A__"....yeah, I said it. Welcome to the thread, Coconut and good luck on your upcoming surgery and preperation for it. Looks like you and Great are in the same area. Would be nice if you had some experienced support. She's done really well! Julie...when I read your post from last night I wanted to tell you that maybe you should get another opinion. There's gotta be something going one to cause that much discomfort. Wouldn't ya think? You've been way too patient. I'm a "results" kind of girl....I'd be knocking on doors for answers. Just a thought. Just going to say "Hey" to everone else. Caught up on the posts but not going to repeat what has already been said. Out and about the last two days. In my truck and running for farm parts, etc. Had my flu shot yesterday. First year ever that it did not affect me. I am going to claim that it is because I am so darned healthy. Yep, going with that. Clothes....cleaned them ALL out of my closets. (Had to make room for the new ones. LOL. Even made my oldest DS take all his guards uniforms, etc. that were filling his old bedroom closet. It's now full again. I have a friend that is about 60lbs heavier than I am and gave her a bunch of clothes. Well, she is my very self-centered friend. Love her to death but the entire universe centers right around her. Not a thank you once and dropped mostly new clothes numerous times. I decided I may as well make some money off of them so I began taking them to a consignment shop. Last year I had loads that went to Salvation Army. Everything I have now is going to stay and just the size I now wear. Good way to make yourself stay the size you are! We have sun again today. Makes a person feel so happy. I am a fairly upbeat person but 3 weeks of no sun was enough for me. Was getting a little testy. DH would verify that. Sunday I just couldn't figure out what the heck was wrong with me. Went on a nice date with DH and I was jumping at everything he said. Not like me. Got a couple of apologies in and then would do it again. Better now. The guys are out digging and laying drain tile in the fields and will be ready for a good hot meal when they get in. Packed them coolers this morning for their noon lunch. Have sirloin/stuffing roll-ups in the oven. Making fresh green beans and baked potatoes. Pumpkin cake for dessert. I have absolutely no appetite the last couple of days. Taking it easy and eating soft. Got stuck big time on a couple of bites of shredded wheat on Sunday morning. Must be swollen. Living on protien bars (soft ones) until maybe tomorrow night. Cannot do and never could do protein shakes so the bars will have to do. The kind I buy contain a good amount of fiber so should be OK. Oh yeah, eating mashed cauliflower also. OK...heading out for about an hour of yard work. Talk to you all later.

OK Phyll...now I don't feel so bad about my one hour mixup on Sunday morning! You asked how the farmers feel about it. One thing you NEVER to is ask a farmer what he thinks about the weather or something like setting clocks back or forward for that matter. Farmers tend to be a group of "whiners". Not all...but one of the reasons I don't go into the local coffee shop in the morning. Negativity and I do not mesh. DH, on the other hand, is the most easy going person God put on this earth. He has farmed since he could barely see over the tractor steering wheel and year to year to year he keeps the same temperment. If not, I don't think I could have taken all the stress that comes with the farm. He's an absolute jewel in the rough.

Hey Gang...no time to post...just wanted to say "Hi". Taking advantage of the nice weather. Woohoo...up to 44 degrees and the sun is shining. Outdoor projects to finish up today. Afraid it will be one of the last times to do it. Hey Meredith! Still got the fingers crossed for your closing. Hi Laura...happy to hear you are home with your family. Enjoy! Thanks for sharing the photos. Phyll...Hats, shoes, books and purses...good goin'. Men have their tools and toys... and we have ours. I consider purses a tool. Better get back at it b/4 it turns dark in an hour. Hope you all have a good evening. Got the flu shot today (Not H1N1). Always run a slight temp from it...hope not this time. DS got really icky from it but he had a bad cold when he got it. Surprised the VA vacinated him when he wasn't feeling well. Maybe he didn't tell them? Anyway, never take ANYTHING. Not even after surgerys. I have the Tylenol sitting on the counter....maybe will have to break down and take a little.

Depends on what your doc wants you to do. Does he ask his patients to wait a certain amount of time? My doc did not have a restriction on coffee. I drink it every day. 16oz black coffee, 1 pck Swiss Miss FF (25 cal) and 2 tbls SF Torini syrup. I find it holds off hunger and is VERY satisfying.

I would do it over again no matter what it took!

Eva..what a good momma you are. Samson will be very happy and all snuggled in. I, too, make cards. Find it to be a stress reliever and satisfying when done. Oh yeah...didn't bring up what I though on the muffin top issues that Janet mentioned. Nope, I couldn't do it either, Janet and Eva. I notice now that I am more comfortable wearing clothes that are a little more form fitting but not tight. Can't do it. Any little thing shows and I toss it off.

OK...now I'm really confused. Is it the weekend to set the clocks back or not? My computer says not, cell phone say not. Why did clock in bedroom automatically go back and get me up so early? I just looked back...I gotta shorten up my posts. I am a gabber.

Liliana...happy to hear that your surgery went well and you are back at home and ready to start you LB life. Sorry about the shoulder issues. Like Janet said, walk it off. So good for you to be up and about but also to get your rest. Make good food choices and follow the rules your doc set for you as far as taking care of yourself and your food regimine. (sp?) Janet... sounds like you had a productive Saturday. The Ninja sounds great. I was gifted a Magic Bullet by a friend when I had my LB surgery. I don't use it much anymore but came in handy back then. I, too, was up early this morning 5:20. Went to bed at 9pm last night. Two nights in a row...unusual for me. DH got up about an hour later, we had Breakfast and looked at the clock and it said 8:30. Forgot that clocks went back an hour last night. Clock in bedroom automatically sets itself. Still fighting this verdigo crap and the pills I take for it kick my butt. It will all pass in a few days. Happens every year about this time and just plays itself out. Feel like I am walking around in a daze. almost fell down the stairs backwards yesterday. I was doing laundry and running like I do. We have a hand rail on the steps but decided to bring a double load up and no free hands. Learned my lesson. Don't want my DH coming home to a horror show at the bottom of the steps! I would give up my basement in a moment! The only thing I would have would be a small underground storm shelter. B/4 this place came up for sale (22 yrs ago), we had plans to build a 2 story log cabin on the farm site where we lived. No basement in the plans. I feel it is wasted space. We have a 900 square foot family room down there with new furniture (2 yrs ago) that has barely been sat on. The only reason I go down there is to walk on the treadmill or get something out of one of the closets. Oh yeah, laundry room but that has a separate set of stairs. When the boys lived at home we used it. Their friends practically lived down there. Think I missed all of them as much as my DS's when they left. DH's bathroom is also down there and I have one in our bedroom and a guest one on the main floor. I would trade my home in a minute to be living closer to town and to have a smaller home. Five bedrooms and three baths for just the two of us. We do have DH's family xmas every few years and the room does come in handy. It's not that I'm not appreciative...just too much upkeep that is unnecessary. Made my cauliflower yesterday. Quite good. Just steamed it till tender and added a little garlic, dill weed, onion, ground sweet red peppers and a tbls of red vinager. There was a little pouch packing goin' on after that! Not really...ate my cup and then another b/4 bed. Such a nice alternative to green veggies. Cheri...good to hear you got something out of your seminars and that they held your interest. As far as my "clean" house. Actually pretty easy since I work from home. Always time to get up from desk or whatever and put a load of laundry in or sweep a floor. Julie...good goin' on the car playing. Always feels good to kick man butt! DH and I are finally going to fit our date in today. He has been sleeping in the chair for over an hour. Guess he needed the extra zzzz's. Never did get how men can fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I have never been a napper so maybe that is why I don't understand. We are heading to Alexandria (about 60 miles or more). Having brunch and taking in a movie and a little shopping. Man shopping at Menards and Fleet Farm. I really do like these stores. They have a little of everything. I will stock up on doggie treats, maybe a new puppa toy or two. You all have a great Sunday. OOOO....was thinking about any other obcessions...I think we need to get Phyll in on this. I noticed around Easter she had the cutest hat on in a phota on her avatar. OK Phyll...how many hats are you hiding in your closet?

Eva...saw the rest of the photos after I posted. What a lovely house...inside and out. You are very talented in laying tile. I LOVE all the designs. I have always been disappointed that we could not do tile in our home. We do have a good sub floor but we have a wood basement and we see where our floor "rises" and falls during different seasons. Part of living in MN I don't think your kitchen looks too dark. I also love the tile you did around your counters. Very lovely. Thanks for sharing. Also, you have a beautiful view. I bet you spend a lot of time hanging out outside. Looks so peaceful.

Hi Kids! Hope everyone is having a great weekend. Wish I was sitting outside in my shorts like Eva! Wow Eva...can really tell the difference. I like it when people show photos in the same clothes that they had on in their b/4's. I bet you feel so much better. Love your puppa. How old is he? Ours will be 8 yrs old on Feb 2. Every year DH and I make him a doggie birthday cake the night b/4 his big day and put candles in it. We make it out of chicken, beef, etc. The first year when we tried to take a photo (with the candles burning) he grabbed the entire cake candles and all and down the hatch in one swallow. Thanks for the comments on my kitchen. Yes, the white does brighten it up. Since it isn't real big, it also makes it seem larger. It does the job. Janet..our alarm goes off the same time EVERY morning. DH's thing...gotta her the damned farm report, ya know. We go round and round about it. I just get up at 5:20 not matter what. Especially with the cold and wet weather we are having and no one getting their corn out of the fields. Same old negative crap over and over. I come out to the kitchen, put the coffee on, make breakfast with some really upbeat music. DH lays and listens to the "god" of all farm reports. Did you get your gym time in? I am not sure who brought up the audio books if it was me or Eva. Anyway, she gave me the idea of getting them from the library. I tooled off this morning and picked up three. TV does not hold my interest when I am on the treadmill. Bet the books will. Gonna smoke my tennies later. Also, thanks for the reminder about cauliflower. I never think to make it mashed. I have NEVER been a mashed potato lover or really any kind of white potatoes. When I was in town this morning I picked up a couple of heads. Going to cook them up and put in portion sized container for the freezer. Julie...sorry to hear you had a rough nite. Darn that shoulder. I sometimes wonder if you don't have a rip that did not get picked up on the MRI. Just a thought. Maybe it is as others say...gotta hurt with PT in order to get better. Great...did you get out for your lunch and Ann Taylor? Something about Ann Taylor stuff. I just love it. I have been finding some in our consignment shops lately. Just this morning I found a sheer beaded/sequined (not overdone..just a few) top in a plum color for $12. Brought it home and matched to a new pair of plum tailored slacks I bought. I knew I would find something to go with them. Happened to have a tank that looks great under it. DH and I were going to have a date last night and called it off cuz too tired (big day). I was in bed early. Then, we promised each other we would drive to a larger town about 60 miles from here and take in a movie and dinner. Well, pansied out on him again...too cold and rainy. Promised that tomorrow we would go out for brunch, drive to see a movie and a little shopping. Won't poop out on him tomorrow. I can't break two promises in a row, can I? Well, think I am going to go and hit the tread mill and relieve a little stress. Put my earphones on, and "read". You all have a good one.

Just personal experience here....I was banded June, 2008 (15 mo?). I have been at goal for about a year. About 1/2 way through the weight loss stage I was in a panic about the way things looked. When attending my initital seminar on the Lap Band, my doc mentioned that it's a good idea for anyone thinking of PS to wait at least a year or more after reaching goal when considering PS. Well, happy to report that I do not have a need for it. I realize that everyone is different when it comes to the elasticity of their skin. I am very happy with the results on this 54 yr old body. (54 in a couple of weeks) Wish you luck!